The Jersey Battle of Flowers

In celebration of the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra the Island of Jersey decided to stage a parade on 9th August 1902. The event was so successful that organisers decided to repeat it the following year – and so began a summer tradition, which continues to this very day and is one of the largest floral carnivals in Europe and without doubt a major highlight in Jersey’s varied summer calendar of festivals and events. In those early days the floral floats were mostly horse-drawn and tradition at the time was for flowers and petals to be torn from the float and thrown to a lady in the crowd, in the hope that one would be thrown back! The floats themselves are works of art with designs a closely guarded secret right up to the grand reveal on Battle day itself. At the heart of the Battle has always been the sense of community commitment and pride, although that is not to say competition among exhibitors does not remain strong. Come and enjoy the spectacle of flower festooned floats, musicians, dancers and entertainers providing a tremendous atmosphere in the Grand Day Parade.